DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.
A/N: For the comment about Haymitch and Peeta not visiting Katniss in the hospital, this chapter will explain why that didn't happen.
Chapter 77-The Last Goodbye
Mrs. Everdeen arrives at the hospital at 7 am. She knows Katniss will be getting discharged today and wants to be there to hear what her discharge instructions are. When she arrives at Katniss's door, she sees a guard off the side who nods his head at her, recognizing her immediately. She is about to walk in the door when she stops, startled by the scene in front of her. Gale is standing right beside Katniss, bent down and kissing her, his hands gripping the sides of the bed. She sees Katniss tilt her head up as he kisses her, smiling at him in between kisses and whispering something to him before his lips are on hers again.
She feels as if she is invading upon a private moment, one which she shouldn't interrupt, but she is annoyed that the two of them are displaying public affection so openly like this, given what has happened in the past. She also knows she now has an opportunity to talk to Gale about some things concerning her daughter, and wants to ensure she speaks with him before the two of them leave for who knows where.
She knocks loudly on the door before entering. She sees Gale jerk his head up and stand straight up, looking only slightly embarrassed. She sees Katniss look very uncomfortable, straightening her hospital gown and looking down at her lap.
"Mom-I didn't hear you" Katniss stammers.
"Sorry to-interrupt" Mrs. Everdeen says in a tone that implies she is anything but sorry.
She sees both of them refuse to make eye contact with each other. She senses Gale does not care for her comment. Right now she doesn't care what he thinks. She decides not to waste any time.
"When do you leave?"
"After the doctor comes in to see me, I'm guessing I can leave around 9."
"How do you feel?"
"Sore still, but not as much pain."
She nods in response and looks at Gale and says, "Gale, I need to speak with you, alone please."
His look shows he is not surprised that she wants to talk to him alone. She feels Katniss's eyes on her. Without a word she and Gale walk out of the room, heading for the visitor's lounge.
She stands by the chairs but doesn't take a seat. Instead she turns to Gale and crosses her arms and says, "Katniss is addicted to morphling pills isn't she?"
"Yes" he says giving her the same hardened stare she is giving him.
"I thought so. No one declines morphling unless they are addicted to it. How long has this been going on?"
"Since she was assaulted by Geffen's men."
She is taken aback by the length of time, realizing that when Katniss asked her for help getting another prescription for her, it was because she was dependent on the pills.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"She kept it from me. I just found out not that long ago."
"Yet you didn't tell me the last few times we have spoken on the phone."
"I didn't want you to be worried any more than you already were."
"That wasn't your decision to make. Speaking of decisions, I know that Peeta and Haymitch are in the Capitol, why aren't they here? They would come immediately if they knew Katniss was injured."
"Because they don't know she is injured."
"You saw to that I take it?"
"I asked the President not to tell them that she was hurt, only telling them that she was found."
"Why are you doing this?"
"I'm protecting her. I can't have Peeta and Haymitch distracting her, Peeta especially."
"You still feel threatened by him." She says it as a statement, not a question.
"Peeta is very good at making Katniss feel comfortable. And Haymitch is very good at making her feel guilty."
"She needs her friends with her Gale. If you are afraid she will go back to Peeta than I guess your relationship is not as strong as I thought it was."
"Do you really see the two of them being able to be friends?"
"That's not your decision to make, just like it wasn't your decision to keep them in the dark about her condition."
"I am leading this mission, I have the right to keep certain things contained."
"I am disappointed in you. I can't believe you still harbor the same feelings of jealousy as you did back in District 12 and 13."
"She can never let him go. Not really."
"If that's how you feel than I guess it is not meant to be."
"She's mine, she belongs with me!" Gale hisses in response, angered by her words.
"Jealous and controlling is not becoming on you Gale, you're better than that, much better" Mrs. Everdeen responds in a calm manner, void of emotion in her voice.
He looks down at his feet, not responding. He knows she is right, but can't bring himself to admit that he was in the wrong.
After a few more seconds of silence, she says, "Have faith in her Gale. She loves you, I saw the way she looked at you right before I came in. When I last saw her in District 12 with Peeta, she wasn't looking at him the way she looked at you. I'm sure at one time she did look at him with that look of love in her eyes, but it was gone by the time I got there. I always liked Peeta, I really did, he was-inherently good. But-I always felt Katniss belonged with you. You were her closest friend, and I have no doubt in my mind that-had the Hunger Games not happened, the two of you would have ended up in a house together in the Seam. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of Katniss for being the mockingjay, and as she says now, everything happens for a reason. I think you both, had to be on separate paths to get where you are now. Katniss took you for granted before, she knows it, and has owned up to it. Don't let the fear of the unknown ruin what the two of you could have."
Gale has been on friendly terms with Katniss's Mother since after the war. Over the years they had written letters to each other and he tried to help her out as much as he could. However, there was a certain subject that they had never discussed, Katniss. To hear her admit her feelings shocked him, for like Katniss she was a closed person and hardly ever admitted her feelings about personal matters.
He gives her a look of thanks and goes back to Katniss's room. He sees the doctor in there and waits outside until they are finished. He sees that she is dressed and out of her hospital gown.
When he comes in she looks eager and says, "The doctor says I can go after I finish working with the therapists for an hour. They should be up to get me in a few minutes."
He smiles at her and says, "Good. Before you go, there's something I need to tell you."
He sees a look of curiosity on her face, "Would this have anything to do with the conversation you had with my Mother?"
"She helped me see what I need to do."
She gives him a very concerned look, immediately becoming paranoid that what he was going to tell her was bad, that he was going to say that he couldn't forgive her and that it was over. She knows she is thinking crazy thoughts but can't help it.
Instead she is shocked by his words when he says "I made sure the President didn't tell Peeta and Haymtich that you were hurt. I didn't want them coming to District 9 to see you. I was-afraid of what could happen."
Her anger rises quickly. She gives him a hardened look and says, "What? That I was going to go running back to Peeta? That I was going to let Haymitch guilt trip me into going back to 12 when I finish what I came here to do? You doubt me that much?"
"You can't blame me for thinking it. You up and leave me without a goodbye and write letters to them telling them how sorry you are and that you miss them."
"Are we going to do this again? Gale I want to be with you. How many times do I have to say it? Did it ever occur to you the reason I feel so guilty when it comes to Peeta and Haymitch is because I walked out on them? The three of us were a team. We were helping to rebuild a District. I am giving up everything that was my previous life, for you. To be with you! I even told Marlon if I don't get a job in District 2 I won't have any other options. All that work for nothing."
"Katniss-"
She raises her hand up to stop him, not wanting him to say anything more. She glares at him and was about to tell him to leave when the two therapists she works with knock on her door.
"Are you ready to go Miss Everdeen?" one of them asks.
"Yes" Katniss says and she slowly gets out of her hospital bed, when Gale tries to help her she brushes him off and says, "I can manage on my own, thank you."
She does not look back at him while she leaves with the two therapists. He swears under his breath and walks out.
When he returns to her room a little over an hour later, he sees Katniss and her Mother talking. He gets no response from her when he tells her they can leave.
The ride in the car to District 9's main base was tense. Katniss sat in the back with her Mother and Marlon while Gale rode in the front with the driver. He tried at times to look back at her to gauge her mood but she would not meet his eyes, turning her head to the side every time he looked at her.
When they arrive at the main base Gale informs Marlon that a small hovercraft will be dropping him off to the cliff by his home. The group escorting him approach and lead him towards the hovercraft.
Gale sees Katniss come up to him and say, "I'm going with him."
Gale raises his eyebrows at Katniss and says, "I thought you would want to get to the tribe as soon as possible?"
"I do, but I can make a quick stop to make sure Marlon is alright. Besides, I want to say goodbye to him. Alone-not here."
Gale nods his head and says, "I'll tell them to wait a few minutes."
Katniss walks back over to her Mother and hugs her, thanking her for everything.
"I know I can't stop you, but, please be careful. And, don't be mad at Gale too long."
She snickers and says, "He needs to trust me."
"That's what I told him. Give it time."
"Tell Jocelyn I said goodbye."
"I will, goodbye Katniss" and her Mother leans in and embraces her, Katniss embracing her back.
When Katniss catches up with Gale before getting on the hovercraft she says, "I take it you are coming with us?"
"Yes, I know you don't want me to."
She shakes her head in response and says, "Wrong again-my feelings haven't change. I said I need you at my side-always."
"Katniss-"
"We're past it Gale. Isn't that what you are always saying to me?"
"I feel like I still need to do something."
"You can, you can start by not keeping things from the people I care about."
"Do you want to call them?"
"No. I don't see the point. I can call once I return. I don't have time to see them anyway."
"I'm sorry, for what I did."
"Looks like we both need to forgive each other."
He smiles softly at her and says, "Might be tough, the two of us being so stubborn and all" and winks at her.
She smiles, the first one she has given him since his confession. She comes up and hugs him, he wraps his arms around her, squeezing her tight.
Katniss walks with Marlon to his cabin, Gale and the other soldiers following behind them at a safe distance, but far enough away they cannot hear their conversation.
When Katniss stands beside him in front of his cabin he says, "Glad to see my home is not ruined."
"Well, I guess this is it" Katniss says turning to look at him.
"Yeah, good luck with the tribe. You'll need it" he says giving her a smirk.
"Thank you. For everything."
"Thanks for-coming back for me."
"Be careful, I wish you would go somewhere else."
"Not a chance. This is my home."
She nods her head and says, "I understand."
"Someday you will have a place that is your home; that is truly your home. Not some place that was given to you because you fought for your life and killed people you didn't want to kill. With that guy over there hopefully" and Marlon points to Gale. She sees Gale is talking with the soldiers, not looking over at them.
"Will you take this, and activate it if you are ever in trouble? She opens her hand and shows Marlon a distress watch, given to her by Gale before they landed.
He sighs loudly and says, "Why are you doing this?"
"This might be our last goodbye. I hope it is, for if you don't activate the watch it means you are safe. You saved me-"
"And you saved me. We are even" he says interrupting her.
"You said I was a pain, I can't have you getting rid of me that quickly now can I? Katniss says giving him a smirk.
He takes the watch. Katniss showing him how to activate it.
Once it is on his wrist she says, "Goodbye Marlon."
He reaches out and touches her shoulder softly, his way of showing that he is sad.
"Goodbye Katniss."
She watches him as he turns and heads to his cabin, turning around and giving her one last look before shutting the door.
Katniss walks in silence with Gale and the other soldiers as they head up the walkway of the hovercraft. When she takes her seat she sees Gale come up to her, bending down and whispering, "The pilot got a call while waiting for us. A few Jay Killers have been spotted not far from here, we are sending a group to capture them."
She looks at him with fierceness in her eyes and says, "Hopefully this new leader is with them."
"Let's hope. You ready Catnip?"
She nods in response. She just said what she hoped was her last goodbye to Marlon, she knows she is heading to say goodbye to another group of people that she cared about. A goodbye that she knew would be a lot harder than this last one.
